Fabrizio Romano claims to be aware of Marc Guehi’s true intentions as Manchester City look to hijack Liverpool’s pursuit of the defender.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Liverpool are actively working to secure the signing of Marc Guehi, but the Reds are far from alone in the race. Arsenal remain keen, while Manchester City are emerging as particularly strong challengers for the Crystal Palace defender.
Guehi’s situation has attracted widespread attention due to his contract, which is set to expire in the summer. According to Romano, the England international has long planned to see out his deal and leave Palace on a free transfer after the 2025/26 season.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that Liverpool are “really pushing” for Guehi, with Mikel Arteta also personally keen on bringing him to Arsenal. Bayern Munich have held talks as well, although their interest may cool if Dayot Upamecano signs a new contract. Meanwhile, Manchester City are determined to act quickly, with plans to make a serious proposal in the current window and no concerns about reaching an agreement with Palace—should the player be open to the move.
Despite City’s aggressive approach, Romano stressed that the final decision rests with Guehi, whose preference has consistently been to wait and move for free in the summer. Still, with City now pressing hard to strike a deal early, Liverpool face a risk if they choose to delay. Waiting until June could invite even more elite clubs into the race for his signature.
Former financial adviser Stefan Borson has suggested that Palace might accept a January offer in the region of £30m–£35m. At that price, Guehi would represent strong value and could significantly strengthen Liverpool’s defence for the second half of the season. However, Liverpool’s focus on landing him on a free may ultimately shape their approach.
From a broader perspective, delaying centre-back recruitment until the summer could prove costly for Liverpool. With concerns over Joe Gomez’s fitness, the need to plan for life after Virgil van Dijk, and uncertainty surrounding Giovanni Leoni’s return from injury, defensive reinforcements are becoming increasingly urgent. By the 2026/27 season, Liverpool may require up to three new centre-backs—a daunting task to resolve in a single transfer window and one that could leave the club under even greater pressure if action isn’t taken sooner.
